Camp Elsdon is a friendly, youth camp set in a peaceful native bush area overlooking Porirua Harbour. Wake up to native birds singing in a rural setting within a city.

The Camp is located at the entrance to Colonial Knob Reserve which offers native bush walks/bike tracks (some energetic) to panoramic views of Porirua and its twin harbours, Wellington, Kapiti and the South Island. It is also handy (1 km) to the local Porirua City centre, shopping and amenities and is 1.5 km from Porirua Railway Station.

We are close to State Highway 1 and 20 minutes (18km) from the Picton (Interislander and Blue Bridge) ferries.

We cater for casual or group bookings (20 to 90 plus). Our facilities include a Lodge, dormitories, and campground with campervan and tent sites. Other amenities include a laundry, dump station, field area, ample parking for buses and cars and resident miniature ponies who enjoy being fed. We can also do pets by special arrangement.

We can provide catering for large groups. We also have Wifi available.

About Us

Camp Elsdon is a charitable incorporated society administering what was known as Elsdon Methodist Youth Camp which began in 1954. We are a simple and convenient low cost camp with a keen “youth” camp tag and offer an "Indoor Tenting" experience for our indoor accommodation.

The camp is open all year long and provides group, team, youth and casual accommodation and is used by schools, church, sports, dance and community groups, and by individual families and overseas tourists.

Camp Elsdon occupies 5.5 hectares of DOC land located on the foothills of western Porirua and is surrounded by the native bush of the Porirua and Colonial Knob Scenic Reserves. It is also a good base and allows for easy access to city, urban, rural, industrial, bush and coastal environments and is close to essential services.

Porirua City centre offers a full range of supermarkets and shopping malls at North City Plaza and The Mega Centre. Local restaurants offer a range of cuisine as well as all main stream fast food outlets. Movies are available at Reading Cinema in North City Plaza or 20 minutes drive away at the lovely Lighthouse Cinema beside Pauatahanui Inlet.

On Saturday mornings the Porirua Market opens at 5am – 10am in the city centre car park and offers tantalizing, freshly cooked Pacific, Asian and Māori foods as well as fresh fish, vegetables, flowers and other goodies.

DISTANCE TO WELLINGTON: Wellington is easily accessible from Porirua City, which is 20 kilometres north of Wellington City on State Highway 1 which is the direct motorway link to Interislander and Blue Bridge ferry terminals for ferries travelling across Cook Strait to Picton in New Zealand’s South Island. The drive to Wellington usually takes 20 minutes on the weekends and varies during the week. Porirua City also has a direct railway link into Wellington City.

FIND/CONTACT US: Camp Elsdon is located on the western side of Porirua, tucked up into the edge of the Colonial Knob Reserve (behind the Elsdon Industrial area).

Access is via Prosser Street from Titahi Bay Road (see ‘Booking Inquiry’ page for map*). Coming from the North take the second off ramp after the Traffic Lights turn right at the main roundabout/interchange and follow the blue camp ground signs. From the South take the Porirua, Titahi Bay off ramp (onto the main roundabout/interchange) turn left and follow the blue camp ground signs.

Click on the link below to view a man of central Porirua mountain bike trail that runs past Camp Elsdon.

The Kowhai Lodge is a restored military barrack with 24 separately lockable twin rooms (which each have two single beds) and sleeps a total of 48 people. Men’s and Woman’s toilet and shower facilities are located in the middle of the Lodge. There is also a disabled toilet/shower included in the facility. A lounge and kitchenette is also available for those staying in the Lodge.

The Lodge is primarily used for group bookings but individual casual bookings are welcome as group bookings permit.

We provide a bottom sheet, pillow and pillow case – you just need to bring all other bedding.

We offer a self catering kitchen/dining facility for group bookings and have a communal kitchen facility (where you bring your own utensils, crockery, pots etc) for casual bookings.

THE DORMS

We have 2 Dormitories which are restored military bunkhouses. Each dorm sleeps up to 15 people (spread across 7 single bunk beds and one single bed) and have two toilets and two showers and a small table and handful of chairs.

The Dormitories are usually used by groups, but casual bookings for a minimum of 8 people or more are welcome as group bookings permit.

We provide a bottom sheet, pillow and pillow case – you just need to bring all other bedding.

We offer a self catering kitchen/dining facility for group bookings and have a communal kitchen facility (where you bring your own utensils, crockery, pots etc) for casual bookings.

CABINS

We have five cabins which sleep from 2 to 7 people. Two of the cabins have dual bunk bed units (which have a double bed on the bottom). Men’s and women’s toilet and shower facilities for the cabins are located right outside the cabin door.

The cabins are used by both group and individual casual bookings.

We provide a bottom sheet, pillow and pillow case – you just need to bring all other bedding.

We have a communal kitchen facility for casual bookings and offer a self catering kitchen/dining facilities for groups.

ED HALL

The Camp specialises in providing self-catering accommodation for group bookings. We have two kitchens fully equipped for group self catering. The Education Hall (‘Ed Hall’) is our smaller self catering kitchen/lounge facility. It has a kitchen and carpeted lounge/meeting area which can accommodate up to 30 to 35 people. The kitchen has two ovens, a microwave, toaster, commercial chiller (fridge) and large freezer. All pots, pans, crockery, cutlery and utensils are provided, you just need your own dish washing liquid, sponges, scourers, rubbish bags and tea towels.

For all kitchen facilities,please keep as tidy as you can on departure and dispose your rubbish in the containers supplied.

DINING HALL

The Camp specialises in providing self-catering accommodation for group bookings. We have two kitchens fully equipped for group self catering. The Dining Hall is a restored wooden military mess hall and is our larger self catering kitchen/Dining facility. It has a large kitchen and dining hall with fold down tables and a small stage and can seat 80 to 85 people for a meal. It also has a simple outside courtyard with BBQ area, bordered by a small gentle stream and native bush. The kitchen has three ovens, a microwave, commercial toaster, commercial chiller (fridge) and freezer. All pots, pans, crockery, cutlery and utensils are provided, you just need your own dish washing liquid, sponges, scourers, plus any of your own pots and pans you prefer.

For all kitchen/dining facilities, please keep as tidy as you can on departure and dispose your rubbish in the containers supplied.

The campground is a simple and convenient stopover for those travelling between New Zealand’s North and South Islands, and is located 20 kilometres north of Wellington city on State Highway 1 which is the direct motorway link to Interislander and Blue Bridge ferry terminal.

Booking Information

School Bookings - booking form at the bottom of this page

Many schools travelling long distances to visit Te Papa and other Wellington attractions know that Camp Elsdon provides a quiet night’s sleep after a long day.

The Camp is located 20 kilometres (20 minutes) north of Wellington city on State Highway 1 and is nestled in a bush setting overlooking Porirua Harbour. We have 94 beds spread across four buildings and a kitchen/dining room and hall for meetings or other activities.

Camp Elsdon specialises in providing self-catering accommodation for school trips. We can also help you arrange catering for those who prefer to let someone else worry about the catering.

We also enjoy visits from local school groups.

Check with the Office for our special School group rates.

Bottom sheet, pillow and pillow case provided.

Visa, MasterCard accepted.

(Please note: there is some cleaning required on departure, which largely includes stripping all beds used and vacuuming all carpeted areas and complete clean down of all kitchen/dining facilities which includes cleaning down all bench and table surfaces and cleaning ovens, fridge and freezer where required.)

Booking form below

Group Bookings

Camp Elsdon specialises in providing self-catering accommodation for schools, church groups, sports teams, dance groups, family group reunions, and other events.

We can also help with catering arrangements for those who prefer to let someone else worry about the catering.

(Please note: there is some cleaning required on departure, which largely includes stripping all beds used and vacuuming all carpeted areas and complete clean down of all kitchen/dining facilities which includes cleaning down all bench and table surfaces and cleaning ovens, fridge and freezer where required.)

Booking form below

Casual Bookings

We have Lodge rooms and cabins for casual booking and dormitories (for groups of 8 or more).

Our Campground also has campervan powered sites and grassed tent sites close to peaceful New Zealand native bush.

Located 20 kilometres north of Wellington, we are a simple and convenient stopover or resting place for those travelling to Porirua or Wellington.